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DClark064
Aug 5, 2026 5:08 AM UTC
Acknowledged

P: LrC 15.5 Video Files Issues (Windows)

I updated to LrC 15.5 a few hours ago.  Since then LrC has problems with video files.  The first problem I noticed was that when I tried to synchronize a folder that had two new video files.  After a couple of minutes I got the error message “An unknown error occurred while reading the video file. (2)”.  I had just completed those files with DaVinci Resolve so I went back and produced the same files again to check if DR had made an error.  When I tried again with the new files but got the same errors.  I was able to play both videos without any issue using VLC Media Player, so they seem to be OK.  I then shutdown LrC and did a backup including optimizing the catalog, and then restarted it to see if that made any difference, but same error.  Then I started looking at other videos that were already in LrC and found that when browsing them in the Library module, most of them pop up a message “There was an error working with the video”.  They will not play in LrC but work fine with VLC Media Player. 

Prior to upgrading to 15.5 I did not experience any of these errors. Is anyone else seeing these problems?

 

    208 replies

    Participating Frequently
    Sep 23, 2026 8:35 PM UTC

    I see this thread tagged as “needs more info”…  anyone know what info is being asked for ?
    I’m not seeing anything here at the moment that tells me Adobe is even looking at this as an issue.

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    Participant
    Sep 21, 2026 3:01 PM UTC

    I have an iPhone15 and am running Lightroom on Windows 11. Had the same problem with 15.5 and hoped it would be fixed in the 15.5.1 that came out a few weeks ago but it wasn't. Wound back to 15.4.1 and all worked perfectly so it's a 15.5, 15.5.1 problem running on Windows. We live in hope that it may be fixed but I'm using the 'most compatible' setting in the iPhone camera app until it is.

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    andreasw5942258
    Inspiring
    Sep 21, 2026 11:51 AM UTC

    Same problem here. 

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    Participant
    Sep 13, 2026 1:12 PM UTC

    Confirming this on 15.5.1 with an additional data point that may help to
    pin down the regression - and confirming that the rollback works.

    Every HEVC/H.265 video fails to import with "An unknown error occurred
    while reading the video file", while H.264 files import normally in the
    very same batch.

    The key observation: this is not about specific files or cameras. My
    catalog already contains HEVC videos that Lightroom Classic itself
    imported in earlier versions (iPhone 8 Main profile, iPhone 15 Pro Main 10,
    1080p and 4K). When I copy those exact same files to a new folder and
    re-import them with 15.5.1, they now fail as well. Same files, same
    machine, same catalog - only the Lightroom version changed.

    CONFIRMED WORKAROUND: rolling back to 15.4.1 fixes it completely. The
    exact same files that failed under 15.5.1 - including 4K HEVC and files
    from three different devices - import without a single error. The catalog
    needed no modification and opened normally after the downgrade.

    What I ruled out by testing before rolling back, in case it saves someone
    time:
    * Location: fails identically from a local SSD and from a network share.
    * GPU setting in Lightroom: "Custom", "Auto" and "Off" - no difference.
    * Video cache cleared via Preferences > Performance - no difference.
    * Windows GPU assignment for Lightroom.exe: "High performance" and
      "Let Windows decide" - no difference.
    * Windows decoding is fine: Films & TV and all other installed players
      play the files normally.
    * Hardware decoding is fine: ffmpeg decodes the same files without a
      single error using -hwaccel cuda, d3d11va, dxva2 and qsv.
    * Microsoft HEVC Video Extension 2.5.33.0 installed, status OK.

    So the failure is specific to Lightroom Classic 15.5/15.5.1 and unrelated
    to hardware, drivers, codecs, paths or GPU configuration.

    System: Lightroom Classic 15.5.1 (202608131348-cab7eed5), Windows 11 Home
    build 26200, MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XWIG, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32 GB,
    NVIDIA RTX 5080 Laptop (driver 32.0.16.1078) + Intel Graphics
    (driver 32.0.101.6629).

    Happy to provide sample files that fail - including ones this same
    catalog imported successfully under an earlier version.

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    Participant
    Sep 7, 2026 11:42 PM UTC

    I have the same problem with LrC 15.5. Can’t play previously imported MOV or MP4 video files and also can’t import MOV or MP4 video files. Called LR support and they said they will no longer be supporting video playback or importing in LrC. I don’t know how they can get away with that. I have thousands of video files that are organized in LrC and now I can’t see them natively in LrC or continue to organize future videos using LrC. Time to go find a new app to replace Lightroom.

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    johnrellis
    Legend
    Sep 16, 2026 11:02 PM UTC

    [View this post in your web browser. It contains formatting and images that don't appear in email.]

    ​@coreypro2 Called LR support and they said they will no longer be supporting video playback or importing in LrC. 

     

    Adobe technical support for LR can’t be trusted -- over the years, they’ve acquired the reputation of saying anything to close out an issue.

     

    In this instance, this thread contains a bug report acknowledged by Adobe (since it remains in the Bugs section). In general, the most authoritative information about bugs is provided here by the Adobe moderators, often well before that information reaches Adobe technical support.

     

    So until an Adobe moderator responds here, I think you should assume what Adobe technical support said is bogus.  LR 16 will almost certainly arrive the beginning of November, and if Adobe intends to discontinue support for video in LR Classic (which I doubt), it will surely be announced as part of LR 16.

     

    In the meantime, rolling back to LR 15.4.1 works around the problem.

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    DClark064
    DClark064Author
    Sep 17, 2026 12:30 AM UTC

    John, I agree that the Adobe tech support is giving out bogus information, but that seems to be the only response from Adobe on this issue other than moving this thread from Questions to Bug-Reports. It may be that Adobe will fix this issue in the November release, but that is only a wish.  It may be much longer.  LrC has been unable to open and play h.265 videos for a long time.  Now LrC cannot even import them.  That’s not progress. 

    We have many examples of bugs that have existed for many years and show no sign of being fixed.  I wish Adobe was more respectful of their customers and would make some statement on this issue, and others.  I wish you were managing Adobe’s LrC development.  I think we would see an immediate improvement in the quality of releases and the responsiveness to customers. 

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    Inspiring
    Sep 7, 2026 7:52 AM UTC

    Same here with Pixel 8 and Pixel 10 videos. They worked fine in LrC 15.4, they play fine using the GPU in MPC-HC. Please fix, this has been open for almost a month now and is getting ridiculous. This is not how you bug fix professional software.

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    Participant
    Sep 4, 2026 12:16 PM UTC

    When trying to play iphone video error message on screen “There was an error working with the video”

    When trying to import iphone ,mov videos, error window on screen “An unknown error occurred while reading the video file.” In the import file list the videos are shown “Preview unavailable for this file.”

    Corrections tried: deleted subfolders in %AppData%\Adobe\dynamiclinkmanager and %AppData%\Adobe\dynamiclinkmediaserver.

    Purged cashe x2 in Preferences - Performance

    Some 2-3 weeks ago it was possible to play and import iphone videos.

    Tried to activate HEVC codec in PC, and even bought  Microsofts HEVC Video Extensions for 0,99€. This did not help at all.

    NVIDIA display driver updated some weeks ago.

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    Known Participant
    Sep 3, 2026 7:44 PM UTC

    I can add that HIF files will not import either.

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    Participant
    Sep 2, 2026 2:34 PM UTC

    Same here. I thought it might be Windows but it isn’t.  I went back to Ver. 15.4.1 and everything is fine. Lightroom has no problem with video, only  LrC.

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    gLightUser
    Participant
    Aug 31, 2026 5:05 AM UTC

    Same issue in 15.5.1 with Sony MP4 videos from an A7CR - attempting to import fails with a “"An unknown error occurred while reading the video file". Previously worked fine.

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    Participant
    Aug 31, 2026 6:47 PM UTC

    Same here, Windows, importing videos from DJI Air 3S

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